Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Earthlings by Sayaka Murata

11 reviews

prod_atashi's review against another edition

challenging emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

WHAT IN THE ACTUAL FUCK WAS THAT

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Violence, Incest, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Blood, Medical content, Torture, Cannibalism, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, and Murder

sianjkh's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

i feel genuinely queasy. I had heard that Murata's other novel was dark but Jesus fucking Christ. I finished the book out of spite that i had paid $25 for it, and because although every single topic in the book is atrocious the writing is gorgeous. god is not merciful and me reading the teacher scene in my school library is proof.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual content, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Incest, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Torture, Blood, Cannibalism, Domestic abuse, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, and Murder

Moderate: Suicide and Suicidal thoughts

magpie98's review against another edition

challenging dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Murder, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Child abuse, Incest, Violence, Torture, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Cannibalism, Sexual violence, and Adult/minor relationship

prince_philips_butthole's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Vomit, Alcohol, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Gore, Suicide, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Cannibalism, Gaslighting, Murder, Pedophilia, Violence, Blood, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Body horror, Death, and Death of parent

bananabeard812's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Murder, Torture, Violence, Sexual harassment, Rape, Incest, Sexual assault, and Pedophilia

nate_b's review against another edition

dark emotional lighthearted mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Really sucks you into a view of the everyday in a new way. Eerie and also disturbing at the same time. This book was not incredibly fun or interesting in terms of the story itself but it was so well told and the narrator did a charming job that I had to keep listening.

There are a few passages that haunt me long after I've finished it, where the protagonist reflects on her experiences and reasoning and relationships...

Ultimately I think this book could be used by psychology professors as a fantastic example of

dissociation as a result of trauma. It was captivating to see her worldview slowly realign itself and justify the way things are and what she needs to do to survive. Less a novel of plot than a character study in that way.

Not for the squeamish!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Torture, Sexual assault, Cannibalism, Injury/Injury detail, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Gore

thryaksha's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

What. 
Please look at all the content warnings. Definitely not a feel good read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Incest, Adult/minor relationship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Murder, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Torture, and Violence

sonichkavibe's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism, Murder, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, Torture, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Vomit, Sexual assault, Rape, Pedophilia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, Incest, Gore, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Blood

faduma's review

dark sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Child abuse, Violence, Torture, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Self harm, Rape, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Murder, Mental illness, Incest, Gore, Emotional abuse, Body horror, Blood, and Cannibalism

mcdal's review

This is one of the most profoundly fucked up books I have ever read, and yet I couldn't put it down. While there is no denying the content of the story is awful, the commentary was surprisingly engaging in just how blunt and horrifically dark it was. That ending in particular had me reeling. It's one of those situations where I question the morality of the writing, but I also don't want to make any assumptions about the author especially considering this was a translated work. There were many moments that made my stomach turn but I also can't pretend that there weren't also moments I found compelling, either intellectually or in the way you can't look away from an active car crash. I would not recommend this book to anyone I know or love, but if you want to read a truly fucked-up story exploring the toxicity of heteronormativity and late-stage capitalism, then go on ahead. Just don't say I didn't warn you [seriously though, please for the love of god check the content warnings before reading this, if you are even slightly effected by these issues, you will be triggered so please take care of yourself]. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, and Vomit